The past weeks have been a time of quite a few firsts.
I went for my first hike ever here in the UK. Organised by a group of a few London mosques, it felt like a nice way to get initiated into hiking. Plus, I had heard good things about the previous hike they did. Living in the city, we forget that there is a world which we can, and should, reconnect with. To rekindle the sense of awe that reminds us about how insignificant we are in the scheme of this world. The good thing about living in south London is that this world can begin as close as a really, really short drive away.
I participated in a speed networking event. It was way out of my comfort zone, and I almost turned back at the entrance to hide in a corner where no one would see me. Then I remembered that’s exactly the sort of thing I teach my kids not to do in such a situation. Went back in, and enjoyed it so much that if I had the time, I would have joined the queue to join another round.
I went running around a central London park. As a pavement pounder around my own neighbourhood only, I have never found the point in traveling some place by using any form of transport. Somewhat self-defeating, if only to run. That’s the beauty which attracted me to running in the first place. That I could start running right outside my doorstep. Nonetheless, it was an experience to be running in one of the best maintained parks in London, among a group of runners (another first; I have always been a solo runner), instead of running alone, navigating through traffic.
I visited Wales. If only for a day trip.
And, I have started developing a new venture. In a way, it brings together the two countries that I call home, and will make them – their people, that is – work together to scale businesses. InshaAllah.
A first that I would have liked more than anything else at this time of the year? Performing Hajj.